Earlier in the season the Baltimore Orioles ended a 15-game winning streak held by Boston. This evening at Tropicana Field, Tampa put their nine-game win streak on the line against the Birds and Chris Bassitt – who was activated off the IL to make the start. Bassitt’s line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K.
The O’s put runners at the corners in the second inning, and took a 1-0 lead on Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s RBI-groundout. An RBI-double by Palacios in the bottom of the frame would tie the game, but the Birds hung tough. They would retake the lead on a solo homer by Colton Cowser in the third, only to have Tampa once again follow suit and tie it at two on Mesa’s RBI-single in the bottom of the inning.
Bassitt was okay for his first start off the IL. Sadly for him however, the game was still tied when he left in the top of the sixth. The O’s loaded the bases in the seventh, with first base being full due to an intentional walk to get to Dylan Beavers. And he catapulted the Orioles into the lead with a two-RBI single at 4-2.
When you’ve played as inconsistently as the Orioles have this year, and as poorly as they have at Tropicana Field, that was a huge moment. Especially given the standings, and given the fact that Tampa had won nine straight. And part of why they won nine straight is the certain amount of joie de vivre with which they operate. It’s on a frustrating frequency on which the rest of us can’t work.
The bigger play however was the eighth inning two-run homer by Gunnar Henderson. It was his twentieth home run of the season, and it gave the Birds a 6-2 lead. Which was huge…
…because of Tampa’s aforementioned joie de vivre. They were never going to go quietly. Yennier Cano came on for the ninth, and after surrendering two base hits he uncorked a wild pitch and left two runners in scoring position. He would strike out Diaz, and allow a two-RBI single to Aranda. Caminero’s RBI-groundout would record the second out, but left the O’s with no more wiggle room at 6-5.
Crag Albernaz opted to change pitchers and brought in Cal Sanders. He induced a flyout on the first pitch to Vilade, ending the inning. And the game.
Again, Tampa doesn’t go quietly. Maybe because they’re so peppy and happy. And there’s a quiet confidence about them whereby if they lose, they just come back tomorrow and try again. But end of the day, not even that attitude was enough to defeat the Orioles and get their win streak to ten.
The series continues tomorrow evening at Tropicana Field. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Ian Seymour. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.
Birdland Crush 